Shower floor drain

ABSTRACT

The shower floor drain has a main casting of iron which includes a downwardly projecting portion adapted to be connected to the drainpipe. An outwardly and slightly upwardly extending flange is integral with the upper end of the tubular portion and has an upward lip formed on its circular outer periphery. There are a pair of upwardly facing, diametrically opposite and tapped bosses on said flange within the lip. A decorative rim made of stainless steel or the like is pressed on and encloses the lip and has a narrow horizontal flange below its upper limit and spaced slightly above the upper faces of the bosses. A stainless steel strainer overlies the rim flange, is of less diameter than the inner diameter of the lip, and is screwed to the bosses to anchor the rim to the casting and to insure that the exposed surfaces of the drain are corrosive resistant.

United States Patent 1 1 Cosper 1 July 17, 1973 SHOWER FLOOR DRAIN Primar q rniner-Henry rti s [75] inventor: John Gospel. Birmingham,AtnriJmey---Curtis F. Prangley, Harold V. Statland [73] Assignee: CosperManufacturing Company, g a I Inc., Birmingham, Ala. [5 ABSTRACT Filed: J1971 The shower floor drain has a main casting of iron which [21] APPLNo: 153,730 includes a downwardly projecting portion adapted to i beconnected to the drainplpe. An outwardly and slightly upwardly extendingflange is integral with the U68. Clupper end of the tubular portion andhas an upward [5 l 1 Int. Clforr ed on circular outer periphery Thereare a of Search of upwardly facing diametrically ppgsite and tapped 286,288, 291, 292, 235/42, 46 bosses on said flange within the lip. Adecorative rim made of stainless steel or the like is pressed on and en-References Cited closes the lip and has a narrow horizontal flange belowUNITED STATES PATENTS its upper limit and spaced slightly above theupper 1,828,601 10 1931 Frye 285 42 faces Of'the A Stainless SteelStrainer overlies 3,105,707 10/1963 Jacobson 285/46 x the rim g is ofless diameter than the inner diame- 2,780,303 2/1957 Yavitch 4/146 terof the lip, and is screwed to the bosses to anchor the 2,783,852 3/1957Sisk 4/292 X rim to the casting and to insure that the exposed sur-2,859,452 I H1958 Seewack 4/146 X faces of the drain are corrosiveresistant 3,420,552 l/l969 Mork 4/146 X 1 3,615,108 10/1971 T6111 285/46Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 SHOWER FLOOR DRAIN BRIEF SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION Rusting is an important factor to be avoided in themanufacture of the exposed components in the drains for showers,particularly shower floor drains. This is an important concept in makingsurface drains for floors and areaways. This is traditionally avoided bymaking the base or body, which is set in the floor and connected to thedrain pipe, of brass or similar non-rusting materials. The strainerwhich also ia made of nonrusting metal is recessed in the body. Much ofthe prior art is devoted to various structures for mounting andsupporting the strainer in the brass body and the entire unit in thefloor or shower stall.

The use of brass or similar metals contributes appreciably to therelatively high cost of manufacture of such drains. This expense couldbe avoided if cast or ductile iron or similar low cost metals couldreadily be used.

The shower floor of the present invention contemplates the use of a castiron base or body which is inexpensive as compared to the materialstraditionally used. The base casting is recessed to receive the strainerwhich is made of stainless steel or a similar rust resistant material.The exposed part of the casting is enclosed within or covered by a rimmade of rust proof material such as stainless steel. The entire exposedsurface of the strainer is of rust proof or resistant material such asstainless steel or brass chrome or brass chrome plated metal.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved shower floor drain wherein the base castingmay be made of cast iron or similar inexpensive material and the exposedportions are made of a rust proof or rust resistant material such asstainless steel, chrome plated metal and the like.

Another object is to provide a shower floor drain having the advantagesand characteristics set forth in the preceding paragraph which hasrelatively few parts and may be manufactured at low cost.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. In thisdescription and the claims the term shower floor drain is used toembrace drains for showers, floors, areaways, and similar surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION The drawing showsa shower stall having a floor l2 sloping toward a shower floor drain 14of the present invention. The drain 14 has a body 16 made of cast ironor some similar inexpensive, easy to form material of substantialstrength. The body 16 includes a tubular depending portion 18 connectedto a conventional drain pipe 20 by inside caulking; 22. As shown in FIG.4 the depending portion 18 may be threaded at 24 to be connected intothe drainage system in the manner shown for example in A. A. Baker, U.S.Pat. NO.

2,629,457, dated Feb. 24, 1953.

At its upper end the tubular portion 18 is integral with an outwardlyand slightly upwardly sloping circular flange 30 by means of which thedrain 14 may be set in and supported by the material of the floor 12. Atits outer periphery the flange has an upstanding lip 32. lmmediatelywithin the lip 32 the flange is formed with a narrow horizontal shelf 34which adds material at the edge of the flange 30 to provide strengthagainst breaking or cracking.

A pair of bosses 36 are formed on the upper surface of the flange 30 atopposite sides of the body casting l6, and they have their upper faces38 coplanar with the horizontal shelf 34. The bosses are tapped at 40 toreceive flat headed screws or bolts 42.

The lip 32 and outer peripheral edge of the flange 30 is enclosed withina rim 44 made of a rust proof or resistant material, such as stainlesssteel, which is pressed thereon so as to become a fixed part of thedrain body. Other suitable materials are brass chrome or brass chromeplated metal. The rim 44 has a depending skirt 46 which covers the outersurface of the lip 32 and the flange 30. The skirt 46 extends into acurved crown 48 which covers the upper edge of the lip 32 and extends aslight distance down the inner face of the lip. The rim 44 is completedby a narrow inwardly horizontal flange 50 which overlies and is spacedslightly abovethe shelf 34. The flange 50 is cut away at 52 toaccommodate the screws 42.

The rim crown 48 and flange 50 form a recess 54 to receive a strainer 56which has a plurality of holes 58 therein to permit draining the wastewater to the drainpipe 20. Adjacent its marginal edges the strainer 56has a pair of diametrically opposite holes60 therein to receive thescrews 42. The screws 42 hold the strainer 56 tightly against the rimflange 50 and the rim 44 against the lip 32. While it is preferred thatthe rim 44 has a press fit over the lip 32 and the edge of the flange30, the mounting of the strainer 56 is such that it presses against therim in the holding direction, and inadvertent dislodgment or removal ofthe rim is not possible. FIG. 3 shows that the upper surface of thestrainer is slightly below the rim crown 48 so that any person using theshower is protected against injury from the strainers edge.

FIG. 2 shows the strainer 56 to have round drain holes 58. It may beformed with straight or arcuate slots or combinations thereof inaccordance with the artistry of the designer. The specific arrangementof such outlets is not part of this invention.

The construction of the shower floor drain provides a device where thevisible parts are made of rust proof material or have rust proofsurfaces thus protecting the device against corrosion. It is alsoclear'from this description that the drain has a minimum number of partsand is inexpensive to manufacture, install, and maintain.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United StatesLetters Patent is:

1. A floor drain for use with a drainpipe, said floor drain comprisingan integral body including a depending portion for connection to thedrainpipe, a body flange on said depending portion and directedoutwardly therefrom, a lip on said body flange and extending in adirection opposite to said depending portion, and at least two bosses onsaid body flange and extending in the same direction as said lip; adecorative integral rim made of a corrosion-resistant metal including acrown which substantially conforms to the shape of said lip and matestherewith, and a rim flange on said crown and projecting inwardlytherefrom; a strainer made of a corrosion-resistant metal and having adiameter less than the diameter of said crown and overlying said rimflange; and fastening means securing said strainer to said bosses andthereby securing said rim therebetween.

2. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said body flange has ashelf with a surface directed opposite to said depending portion, saidrim flange being disposed substantially parallel to said surface andspaced therefrom.

3. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said rim flange isoffset from said crown, said strainer resting on said rim flange andconstrained by said crown.

4. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said rim and saidstrainer are made of stainless steel'so that no exposed part of saidfloor drain is made of a material that can corrode.

5. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said crown ispress-fitted onto said lip.

6. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said bossesrespectively have threaded tapped bores therein, and said fasteningmeans includes two screws passing through openings in said strainer andrespectively threadably engaging in said tapped bores.

7. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said body flange has aside surface therearound and said rim has a skirt depending from saidcrown which abuts said side surface.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,7 6,594 DatedJuly 17, 1975 Patent No.

Inventor(s) John A. Cosper' It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet F73] the assignee should read as follows:

-- Cosper Manufacturing Company, Inc. Birmingham, Ala.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

- C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attest ing 0f ficer and Trademarks FORM PO-1OSO (10-69) useomm DC 60376 a -P 9 u.s.eovsmmzur rmmms orncz; 93 o P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATEOFTCORRECTION Patent No. 3,745,594 Dated July 17, 1973 Inventor (s') N.f A COSPER It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent .and that said Letters Patent are hereby 'correctedas shownbelow;

On the cover sheet [73], the assignee should read as follows: I I

-- Cosper Foundry, Inc. a corporation of Q Alabama Signed ainc1';se'a1edthis 13th day of August l974.

(SEAL) Attest: I

McCOY M. GIBS'QN,,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents F ORM PO-1 050 (10-59) USCOMM-DC 603764 09 1 U. 54 GOVIRNIINTPRINTING OFHCI "I. 0-3li-3Sl.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION I Patent No.3,7435% a Date Julv 17.1973

Inventor-(5) JOhfi A. Cosper' It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Attorney should be "Curtis F. Prang ley, Harold- V. Stotlahd et a1=.-

Column 1, line: 11, "ia" shou ld b e --is--.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of December 1973.

(SEAL) Attest: H

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER I I Attesting Officer 1 ActingCommissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (10-69) 1 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69, v U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1961! O36633l I

1. A floor drain for use with a drainpipe, said floor drain cOmprisingan integral body including a depending portion for connection to thedrainpipe, a body flange on said depending portion and directedoutwardly therefrom, a lip on said body flange and extending in adirection opposite to said depending portion, and at least two bosses onsaid body flange and extending in the same direction as said lip; adecorative integral rim made of a corrosion-resistant metal including acrown which substantially conforms to the shape of said lip and matestherewith, and a rim flange on said crown and projecting inwardlytherefrom; a strainer made of a corrosion-resistant metal and having adiameter less than the diameter of said crown and overlying said rimflange; and fastening means securing said strainer to said bosses andthereby securing said rim therebetween.
 2. The floor drain set forth inclaim 1, wherein said body flange has a shelf with a surface directedopposite to said depending portion, said rim flange being disposedsubstantially parallel to said surface and spaced therefrom.
 3. Thefloor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said rim flange is offset fromsaid crown, said strainer resting on said rim flange and constrained bysaid crown.
 4. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said rimand said strainer are made of stainless steel so that no exposed part ofsaid floor drain is made of a material that can corrode.
 5. The floordrain set forth in claim 1, wherein said crown is press-fitted onto saidlip.
 6. The floor drain set forth in claim 1, wherein said bossesrespectively have threaded tapped bores therein, and said fasteningmeans includes two screws passing through openings in said strainer andrespectively threadably engaging in said tapped bores.
 7. The floordrain set forth in claim 1, wherein said body flange has a side surfacetherearound and said rim has a skirt depending from said crown whichabuts said side surface.